Magnetic cultured pearls, articles of manufacture made therefrom, and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A magnetic cultured pearl comprises a magnetic core member around which pearl nacre material has been permitted to develop as a result of implantation of the magnetic core member within a host organism. The magnetic cultured pearls can be used to manufacture pearl necklaces or pearl bracelets without the need to string the cultured pearls upon conventional strings. A method of manufacturing the magnetic cultured pearls is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cultured pearls, and moreparticularly to new and improved magnetic cultured pearls, articles ofmanufacture made therefrom, and a method of manufacturing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, the pearl is the only gemstone that is manufactured as aresult of being grown inside a living organism. In accordance with thenatural process by means of which pearls are developed, pearls areformed, for example, within oysters, when a foreign object or entity,such as, for example, a parasite, invades the shell of the oyster,enters the soft mantle tissue, and picks up or gathers epithelial cells.This is an irritating process to the oyster, and in response to thisirritation, the epithelial cells are formed into a sac, accordinglyknown as a pearl sac, which effectively encloses the foreign object orentity irritant, and subsequently, the pearl sac, in turn, secretes acrystalline substance, known as nacre, which is built up in layersaround the pearl sac. These layers ultimately form the pearl which issubsequently harvested. Cultured pearls are similar to naturallyoccurring pearls in that the overall fabrication process issubstantially or basically the same, however, in lieu of the developmentor growth of the pearl as a result of the natural introduction of anirritant, in the form of the aforenoted parasitic invasion, into theinterior region of the oyster, the development, growth, manufacture, orcultivation of cultured pearls is intentionally initiated, for example,as a result of the introduction or implantation of a nucleus, in theform of a small spherical bead, or the like, made from the shell of amollusk, into an oyster that has been removed from its watery habitat,the spherical bead nucleus therefore serving as the irritant. The oysteris then returned to the water, and after a predetermined period of timeduring which the oyster has covered the spherical bead nucleus with asufficient amount of the nacre so as to form the pearl, the oyster isonce again removed so as to effectively harvest the formed pearltherefrom. Cultured pearls have effectively entirely replaced naturallyoccurring pearls as the source of pearls for worldwide sales.

While cultured pearls have been fabricated for more than one hundredyears by means of the foregoing, or a similar, process, problems doexist in, or plague, the cultured pearl industry, and in a similarmanner, problems also plague or confound consumers who often buy pearlsin the form of pearl necklaces, bracelets, and the like. Moreparticularly, for example, when the cultured pearls are to be utilizedin connection with the manufacture of, for example, pearl necklaces,bracelets, and the like, it is necessary to drill diametrically orientedholes through the pearls, and the original nuclei disposed within thecultured pearls, in order to enable a string to be inserted through thepearls so as to effectively enable the pearls to be strung together,however, such a drilling process is extremely delicate and must beperformed with great care due to the fragile nature of the crystallinestructure comprising the pearl nacre. Oftentimes, such a drillingprocess causes the pearls to in fact be fractured whereby not only isthe supply of available pearls impacted, but obviously, the loss of suchpearls is extremely costly for the manufacturers.

Another problem or drawback characteristic of pearl jewelry resides inthe fact that once the pearls are in fact strung so as to form, forexample, a pearl necklace or pearl bracelet, there is always the riskthat, as a result of the necklace or bracelet being handled or worn, thestring itself can break. As has been experienced, such a breakage in thestring, upon which the plurality of pearls are strung, often results inthe plurality of pearls falling to the floor and scattering in alldirections. Furthermore, and also in connection with the fabrication ofa pearl necklace or pearl bracelet, there is the need for fixedlymounting a clasp upon the string of pearls so as to enable the pearlnecklace or pearl bracelet to be worn or removed. Lastly, it is also tobe realized that once a string of pearls is fabricated, whether it be inconnection with the manufacture of a pearl necklace or a pearl bracelet,the arrangement of the pearls upon the string of pearls is effectivelystatic in that the pearls obviously cannot be rearranged with respect toeach other. It is also known that pearls not only vary in color, shape,and size, but also in orient, which is the iridescence caused by therefraction of light by the layers of nacre, as well as luster which isthe reflectivity and shine of the surface. Accordingly, particulararrangements of the pearls may be desired, however, again, once thepearls are actually strung upon their string, they cannot be rearrangedas may be desired.

Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a new and improved culturedpearl, and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein, when the new andimproved cultured pearls are adapted to be utilized in connection withthe manufacture of, for example, jewelry items, such as, for example,pearl necklaces and bracelets, the need for drilling diametrical holesthrough the cultured pearls in order to enable the pearls to be securedtogether, so as to form, for example, the pearl necklace or pearlbracelet, will be obviated and rendered unnecessary. In addition, a needexists in the art for a new and improved cultured pearl wherein, whenthe new and improved cultured pearls are adapted to be utilized inconnection with the manufacture of, for example, jewelry items, such as,for example, pearl necklaces and bracelets, the pearls will be able tobe secured together without the necessity of mounting the pearls upon astring which is subject to breakage. Still further, a need exists in theart for a new and improved cultured pearl wherein, when the new andimproved cultured pearls are adapted to be utilized in connection withthe manufacture of, for example, jewelry items, such as, for example,pearl necklaces and bracelets, there will also be no need to incorporatea clasp mechanism upon the pearl necklace or pearl bracelet in order tofacilitate the donning of the necklace or bracelet, or the removal ofthe same. Lastly, a need exists in the art for a new and improvedcultured pearl wherein, when the new and improved cultured pearls areadapted to be utilized in connection with the manufacture of, forexample, jewelry items, such as, for example, pearl necklaces andbracelets, the various different pearls within the pearl necklace orbracelet may be rearranged as may be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with theteachings and principles of the present invention through the provisionof a new and improved magnetic cultured pearl which comprises a magneticcore or nucleus which is adapted to be implanted within the hostorganism, such as, for example, an oyster or other mollusk. The oysteror other mollusk will then form the pearl around the magnetic core ornucleus in the normal fashion. Subsequently, the pearls are removed fromthe oysters or other mollusks, and as a result of the presence of themagnetic core or nucleus disposed internally within the pearls, thepearls will be magnetically attracted to each other and will be able toeffectively form single or multiple strings of pearls which may beutilized in connection with the formation or manufacture of pearlnecklaces or pearl bracelets. The magnetic core or nucleus can either bemagnetized before implantation within the oyster or mollusk, oralternatively, the completed harvested pearl may be subjected, forexample, to a suitable electro-magnetic field, after the same has beenremoved from the oyster or mollusk, so as to effectively magnetize themagnetic core or nucleus component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other features and attendant advantages of the present inventionwill be more fully appreciated from the following detailed descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view, partly in cross section,of a magnetic cultured pearl constructed in accordance with theprinciples and teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, side elevational view of a single strand ofpearls which may comprise, for example, a pearl necklace or a pearlbracelet, wherein each one of the plurality of pearls, incorporatedwithin the strand of pearls, comprises a magnetic cultured pearl asschematically illustrated within FIG. 1 whereby each one of theplurality of pearls is magnetically connected to an adjacent one of theplurality of pearls such that the plurality of magnetic cultured pearlsneed not be connected to each other by means of a conventional string;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, side elevational view of a first embodiment of adual strand of pearls which may comprise, for example, a pearl necklaceor a pearl bracelet, wherein each one of the plurality of pearls,incorporated within the dual strand of pearls, comprises a magneticcultured pearl as schematically illustrated within FIG. 1 whereby eachone of the plurality of pearls is magnetically connected to an adjacentone of the plurality of pearls such that the plurality of magneticcultured pearls need not be connected to each other by means of aconventional string, and wherein, in addition, the vertical layers ofthe dual strand of pearls are disposed within a first predeterminedarray with respect to each other;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, side elevational view of a second embodiment of adual strand of pearls which may comprise, for example, a pearl necklaceor a pearl bracelet, wherein each one of the plurality of pearls,incorporated within the dual strand of pearls, comprises a magneticcultured pearl as schematically illustrated within FIG. 1 whereby eachone of the plurality of pearls is magnetically connected to an adjacentone of the plurality of pearls such that the plurality of magneticcultured pearls need not be connected to each other by means of aconventional string, and wherein, in addition, the vertical layers ofthe dual strand of pearls are disposed within a second predeterminedarray with respect to each other;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment method ofmanufacturing the magnetic cultured pearl as schematically illustratedwithin FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment method ofmanufacturing the magnetic cultured pearl as schematically illustratedwithin FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,a new and improved magnetic cultured pearl, constructed in accordancewith the principles and teachings of the manufacturing method or processof the present invention, is disclosed and is generally indicated by thereference character 10. More particularly, as can readily be appreciatedfrom FIG. 1, the new and improved magnetic cultured pearl 10 comprises amagnetic core member or nucleus component 12 around which the pearlnacre material 14 is subsequently formed by means of the oyster or othermollusk once the magnetic core member or nucleus 12 has been implantedwithin the oyster or mollusk. The magnetic core member or nucleus 12 isfabricated from a suitable magnetic material, such as, for example, asuitable neodymium-iron-boron composition, and it is noted that themagnetic core member or nucleus 12 is preferably coated or plated withan inert metal layer comprising, for example, gold, silver, platinum,iridium, or the like, so as not to adversely affect the host oyster ormollusk from a biological perspective. It is also noted that while themagnetic core member or nucleus 12 may simply comprise, in effect, asphere or spherical bead, other geometrical configurations, such as, forexample, any polyhedron or similar three-dimensional or solidgeometrical structure, for the magnetic core member or nucleus 12 arepossible. In this manner, the finalized or completed magnetic culturedpearl 10 will have a predeterminedly defined geometrical configuration.

In connection with the actual process for fabricating the magneticcultured pearl, reference is now made to the flow chart of FIG. 5 whichschematically illustrates a first embodiment method or process formanufacturing the magnetic cultured pearl. As can be appreciated fromFIG. 5, the magnetic core member or nucleus 12 is initially formed, asat 16, from the suitable magnetic material, and so as to have apredeterminedly desired geometrical configuration, and if also desired,as has been alluded to hereinbefore, the magnetic core member or nucleus12 can be coated or plated with a suitable inert metal layer. The coremember or nucleus 12 is then implanted into the host organism, as at 18,whereby the same is permitted to remain within the host organism for apredetermined period time during which the host organism will secreteand form a sufficient amount of pearl nacre material 14 around theimplanted core member or nucleus 12, as at 20, so as to effectively forma completed cultured pearl. The completed cultured pearl is then removedfrom the host organism, as at 22, and is subsequently subjected, forexample, to an electro-magnetic field, as at 24, in order to magnetizethe core member or nucleus 12 and thereby form the completed orfinalized magnetic cultured pearl 10. Alternatively, a second embodimentmethod or process for fabricating the magnetic cultured pearl isillustrated within the flow chart of FIG. 6 wherein it is readilyappreciated that the method or process steps of the second embodimentmethod or process correspond substantially to the method or processsteps of the first embodiment method or process, except as will be notedhereinafter, and therefore, the method or process steps of the secondmethod or process will be designated by corresponding referencecharacters except that they will be within the 100 series. Moreparticularly, it is seen that the only significant difference betweenthe two embodiment methods or processes resides in the fact that inaccordance with the second embodiment method or process, the core memberor nucleus is subjected to the electro-magnetic field, as at 117, suchthat the core member or nucleus 12 is already magnetized prior to theimplanting of the core member or nucleus 12 within the hose organism asat 118 whereupon removal of the completed cultured pearl from the hostorganism, the completed magnetic cultured pearl 10 is already formed.

Continuing further, and with reference reverting back to FIG. 1, as aresult of the fabrication of the completed magnetic cultured pearl 10 inaccordance with either one of the methods or processes describedhereinbefore and as schematically illustrated within FIGS. 5 and 6,diametrically opposite ends of the completed magnetic cultured pearl 10define opposite magnetic poles N and S. In this manner, with additionalreference being made to FIG. 2, when a plurality of the magneticcultured pearls 10 are disposed adjacent to each other, they can bemagnetically connected together in a universally articulated manneralong point-to-point contact loci as defined by means of the oppositelydisposed magnetic poles. Accordingly, it can be readily appreciatedstill further that, in particular, the plurality of magnetic culturedpearls 10 can be utilized to form, for example, a single strand orlinear array of pearls, generally indicated by the reference character110 as disclosed within FIG. 2, which may comprise, for example, a pearlnecklace, a pearl bracelet, or the like.

In connection with, for example, such a pearl necklace or pearl bracelet110, it can also be appreciated that, as a result of the magneticconnections established between adjacent pairs of the magnetic culturedpearls 10,10, the need for effectively mounting or stringing theindividual cultured pearls 10 upon a string is obviated and renderedunnecessary. Accordingly, not only do the magnetic cultured pearls 10not need to be drilled or machined in order to accommodate a string uponwhich the cultured pearls would normally need to be strung, but inaddition, since the magnetic cultured pearls 10 do not need to undergosuch drilling or machining operations, they will not be exposed topotential fracturing which often occurs attendant such drilling ormachining operations. Still yet further, since the magnetic culturedpearls 10 are magnetically connected together without the need for beingstrung upon a conventional string, there is no danger of the stringbreaking whereby, for example, the individual cultured pearls wouldnormally fall onto the floor and scatter in multiple directions. To thecontrary, if, for example, the pearl necklace or pearl bracelet 110 wereto accidentally fall and drop onto the floor, such as, for example, ifthe pearl necklace or bracelet 110 accidentally slipped out of theowner's or user's hands while being donned upon the user's neck regionor wrist region, or while being removed from the user's neck region orwrist region, two scenarios are possible. The first, best-case scenariowould result in no adverse effects upon the pearl necklace or pearlbracelet 110, that is, the entire pearl necklace or pearl bracelet 110would remain entirely intact due to the strong magnetic bonds definedbetween adjacent pairs of the magnetic cultured pearls 10,10. Thesecond, worst-case scenario would result in the endless loop pearlnecklace or bracelet 110 separating at one or more locations into one ormore sections, however, it is highly unlikely that individual ones ofthe magnetic cultured pearls 10 would become separated from the overallpearl necklace or bracelet 110 due, again, to the strong magnetic bondsdefined between adjacent pairs of the magnetic cultured pearls 10,10.

Still yet further, it can also be appreciated that as a result of themagnetic bonds defined between each adjacent pair of the magneticcultured pearls 10,10 disposed within the pearl necklace or bracelet110, any one of the pairs of magnetic cultured pearls 10,10 canintentionally be easily separated from each other so as to facilitatethe donning of the pearl necklace or pearl bracelet 110 onto a user'sneck region or wrist region, respectively, or alternatively, to permitthe pearl necklace or pearl bracelet 110 to be removed from the user'sneck region or wrist region. Accordingly, the need for incorporating aseparate clasp mechanism into the magnetic cultured pearl necklace orbracelet 110 is obviated or rendered unnecessary. In addition, inconjunction with the aforenoted easy separability between any one of theadjacent pairs of the magnetic cultured pearls 10, 10, or for thatmatter, the easy separability of individual ones of the magneticcultured pearls 10 from the overall pearl necklace or bracelet 110, thisfunctionality characteristic of the individual ones of the magneticcultured pearls 10 with respect to the overall pearl necklace orbracelet 110 permits a user to readily interchange or exchangeindividual ones of the magnetic cultured pearls 10 for other individualones of the magnetic cultured pearls 10 at any particular location alongthe strand of magnetic cultured pearls defining the pearl necklace orpearl bracelet 110. This permits users to, for example, effectivelydesign their own pearl necklaces or bracelets in that differentlycolored or differently sized ones of the magnetic cultured pearls 10 canbe placed at any location along the strand of pearls comprising thepearl necklace or pearl bracelet 110. As is known in the industry,pearls do vary in color and size depending upon the particular molluskfrom which the pearls are harvested, and depending upon the geographicallocation that the particular mollusks inhabit. For example, a largeportion of the worldwide cultured pearls are produced in Japan, however,relatively larger South Sea cultured pearls are produced within thewarmer waters of the South Pacific, and Tahitian black cultured pearlsare produced within the waters surrounding Tahiti.

With reference lastly being made to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is discloseddual strands of pearls which may likewise respectively comprise, forexample, a pearl necklace or a pearl bracelet 210,310, wherein each oneof the plurality of pearls 10, incorporated within individual strands ofpearls 110,110 similar to the single strand of pearls 110 as disclosedwithin FIG. 2 and comprising the dual strands of pearls 210,310,comprises a magnetic cultured pearl 10, as schematically illustratedwithin FIG. 1. It can therefore be appreciated that each one of theplurality of magnetic cultured pearls 10, disposed in either one of theindividual strands of pearls 110,110 is not only magnetically connectedto an adjacent one of the plurality of magnetic cultured pearls 10disposed within its horizontally oriented strand of pearls 110, but inaddition, as a result of the plurality of individual strands of pearls110,110 being vertically stacked with respect to each other, theindividual ones of the magnetic cultured pearls 10, disposed withineither one of the vertically stacked strands of pearls 110, will also,in effect, be magnetically connected to adjacent ones of magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within the other one of the verticallystacked strands of pearls 110. In this manner, the vertically stackedstrands of pearls 110,110 will be magnetically connected together as aresult of the interacting magnetic fields generated by and between theindividual ones of the plurality of magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposedwithin the vertically stacked strands of pearls 110,110.

As can readily be appreciated from reference being made to FIGS. 3 and4, the only significant difference between the two arrays of themagnetic cultured pearls 110,110, as illustrated within the multi-strandpearl necklaces or pearl bracelets 210,310 of FIGS. 3 and 4, resides inthe relative directional orientation of the individual magnetic culturedpearls 10 disposed within each one of the vertically stacked singlestrands 110,110 of magnetic cultured pearls 10. More particularly, ascan be appreciated from FIG. 3, it is seen that all of the magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within the upper strand of pearls 110 havetheir north poles N facing or disposed toward the left as viewed in thedrawing, while all of the magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposed withinthe lower strand of pearls 110 have their north poles N facing ordisposed toward the right as viewed in the drawing. Accordingly, whenthe upper and lower strands of pearls 110,110 are vertically stackedwith respect to each other, the individual magnetic cultured pearls 10disposed within one of the upper or lower strands of pearls 110,110 willin fact be vertically aligned with respect to the individual magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within the other one of the upper or lowerstrands of pearls 110,110. Therefore, it can be further appreciated thatnot only will any one of the individual magnetic cultured pearls 10,disposed within one of the upper or lower strands of pearls 110,110, bedisposed in point-to-point contact with adjacent ones of the magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within the same upper or lower strand ofpearls 110,110, but in addition, the particular one of the magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within one of the upper or lower strands ofpearls 110,110 will also be disposed in point-to-point contact with theone of the magnetic cultured pearl 10 which is disposed directly aboveor below such magnetic cultured pearl 10.

To the contrary, as can be appreciated from FIG. 4, it is seen that allof the magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposed within the upper strand ofpearls 110 have their north poles N facing or disposed toward the rightas viewed in the drawing, while all of the magnetic cultured pearls 10disposed within the lower strand of pearls 110 have their north poles Nlikewise facing or disposed toward the right as viewed in the drawing.Accordingly, when the upper and lower strands of pearls 110,110 arevertically stacked with respect to each other, the individual magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within one of the upper or lower strands ofpearls 110,110 will in fact be vertically offset with respect to theindividual magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposed within the other one ofthe upper or lower strands of pearls 110,110 such that, for example, theindividual magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposed within the upper strandof pearls 110 will in effect be disposed within the spaces orinterstices 312 defined between adjacent ones of the individual magneticcultured pearls 10 disposed within the lower strand of pearls 110, andvice versa, that is, the individual magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposedwithin the lower strand of pearls 110 will in effect be disposed withinthe spaces, intersections, or interstices 312 defined between adjacentones of the individual magnetic cultured pearls 10 disposed within theupper strand of pearls 110. It is lastly noted that while a pair ofstrands 110,110 of the magnetic cultured pearls 10 has been illustratedwith-in FIGS. 3 and 4 so as to respectively form the pearl necklaces orpearl bracelets 210,310, it can be further appreciated and understoodthat additional strands of pearls 110 can be magnetically connectedtogether such that the resulting pearl necklaces or pearl bracelets willcomprise several strands of pearls 110,110, that is, more than two, asmay be desired.

Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention, magnetic cultured pearls have beendisclosed by means of which pearl necklaces, bracelets, or the like, canbe fabricated in a simple manner without the need for stringing thecultured pearls upon conventional strings. Drilling or machiningoperations of the cultured pearls are therefore obviated and renderedunnecessary, there are no strings to subsequently break and causedispersal and possible loss of the pearls, the pearl necklaces orbracelets can be easily donned or removed from a wearer's neck or wristregion, and the individual magnetic cultured pearls can be interchangedor exchanged as may be desired for alternative design purposes.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the presentinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

1. A magnetic cultured pearl, comprising: a magnetic core member; andcultured pearl material, comprising pearl nacre, disposed around saidmagnetic core member.
 2. The magnetic cultured pearl as set forth inclaim 1, wherein: said magnetic core member is fabricated from aneodymium-iron-boron composition.
 3. The magnetic cultured pearl as setforth in claim 1, wherein: said magnetic core member has a predeterminedsolid geometrical configuration around which said cultured pearlmaterial is disposed so as to provide said magnetic cultured pearl witha predeterminedly finalized solid geometrical configuration.
 4. Themagnetic cultured pearl as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said magneticcore member has a substantially spherical configuration.
 5. The magneticcultured pearl as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said magnetic coremember is plated with an inert metal.
 6. The magnetic cultured pearl asset forth in claim 5, wherein: said inert metal is selected from thegroup comprising gold, silver, platinum, and iridium.
 7. A culturedpearl jewelry item comprising a plurality of cultured pearls connectedtogether, comprising: a plurality of cultured pearls disposed within atleast one linear array, wherein each one of said plurality of culturedpearls comprises a magnetic cultured pearl comprising a magnetic coremember, and cultured pearl material, comprising pearl nacre, disposedaround said magnetic core member, such that when pairs of said magneticcultured pearls are disposed adjacent to each other so as to form saidat least one linear array, said adjacent pairs of said magnetic culturedpearls will be magnetically attracted and connected to each other so asto form said cultured pearl jewelry item.
 8. The cultured pearl jewelryitem as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said cultured pearl jewelry itemcomprises a pearl necklace.
 9. The cultured pearl jewelry item as setforth in claim 7, wherein: said cultured pearl jewelry item comprises apearl bracelet.
 10. The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth inclaim 8, wherein: said at least one linear array of cultured pearlscomprising said pearl necklace comprises a single linear array of saidcultured pearls defining a single strand of said cultured pearls. 11.The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in claim 8, wherein: saidat least one linear array of cultured pearls comprising said pearlnecklace comprises multiple linear arrays of said cultured pearlsdefining multiple strands of said cultured pearls.
 12. The culturedpearl jewelry item as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said at least onelinear array of cultured pearls comprising said pearl bracelet comprisesa single linear array of said cultured pearls defining a single strandof said cultured pearls.
 13. The cultured pearl jewelry item as setforth in claim 9, wherein: said at least one linear array of culturedpearls comprising said pearl bracelet comprises multiple linear arraysof said cultured pearls defining multiple strands of said culturedpearls.
 14. The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in claim 11,wherein: all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a firstone of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have theirmagnetic poles oriented toward a first direction; and all of saidmagnetic cultured pearls disposed within a second one of said multiplestrands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic polesoriented toward a second direction.
 15. The cultured pearl jewelry itemas set forth in claim 11, wherein: all of said magnetic cultured pearlsdisposed within a first one of said multiple strands of said magneticcultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a firstdirection; and all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within asecond one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearlsalso have their magnetic poles oriented toward said first direction. 16.The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in claim 13, wherein: allof said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a first one of saidmultiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magneticpoles oriented toward a first direction; and all of said magneticcultured pearls disposed within a second one of said multiple strands ofsaid magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented towarda second direction.
 17. The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth inclaim 13, wherein: all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed withina first one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearlshave their magnetic poles oriented toward a first direction; and all ofsaid magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a second one of saidmultiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls also have theirmagnetic poles oriented toward said first direction.
 18. A method ofmaking a magnetic cultured pearl, comprising the steps of: implanting acore member, fabricated from a magnetic material, within a hostorganism; permitting the host organism to form pearl nacre materialaround said magnetic core member so as to form a magnetic culturedpearl; and removing said magnetic cultured pearl from the host organism.19. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the step of:subjecting said magnetic core member to an electro-magnetic field priorto implanting said magnetic core member into the host organism so as tomagnetize said magnetic core member prior to the formation of said pearlnacre material around said magnetic core member.
 20. The method as setforth in claim 18, further comprising the step of: subjecting saidmagnetic cultured pearl to an electro-magnetic field subsequent to theremoval of said magnetic cultured pearl from the host organism so as tomagnetize said magnetic core member thereby rendering said magneticcultured pearl magnetically attractive to other magnetic culturedpearls.